5 days ago
Govt, Aided School Students and Anganwadi Kids Undergo Health Screening in Coimbatore Every Year
Coimbatore: At least 506 school students in the district were diagnosed with congenital heart disease in the 2024-25 fiscal. Their heart defect would have remained undetected for long had it not been for the screening of students in govt, aided and corporation schools, and anganwadis in the district under the Unition govt's Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) initiative.
Early intervention services are also provided under the initiative.
P Balusamy, deputy director, Public Health Services, Coimbatore, said 66 of the 506 students diagnosed with congenital heart disease had undergone surgeries in the last academic year. "The surgeries were performed at govt and private hospitals free of cost. The state govt took care of all medical expenses for the children under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance scheme.
The remaining children were medically managed.
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Introduced in 2013, this Union govt initiative aims to identify and treat defects at birth, diseases, deficiencies and disabilities, including developmental delays. The scheme primarily focuses on children aged 0-6 years, followed by those in the age group of 7-19 years.
For early intervention, RBSK teams in the district conduct screenings at anganwadi centres twice a year and at schools once a year.
Children suspected of having health conditions are referred to the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital. The centre provides free treatment.
As per the data available with the RBSK teams in the district, more than 2.43 lakh school students and 1.34 lakh anganwadi children were screened under the scheme in 2024-25. Among the seven major defects requiring surgery, congenital heart disease was the most common.
The number of confirmed congenital heart disease cases has, in fact, decreased to 506 in 2024-25 from 522 in 2023-24. Emphasizing on the importance of early detection, Dr C Lavanya, member of a RBSK team, said, "Unaddressed heart ailments, including a hole in the heart, in girls could affect their maternal journey and contribute to maternal mortality. In boys, these conditions could cause fatigue and damage to other organs due to poor blood circulation.
Early detection ensures a better future."
The scheme has also helped identify rare conditions like duchenne muscular dystrophy, which could be fatal in the late 20s, among school students. Other conditions such as tongue-tie, gynecomastia and thyroid disorders are also treated under the scheme.
However, challenges remain, particularly in convincing parents about their children's diagnosed condition. While 80% of the diagnosed children approach the DEIC, parents of the remaining 20% children refuse to accept the diagnosis. Regular follow-up and counselling are offered to address this issue.
According to the medical experts, the congenital heart disease rate aligns with the normal prevalence rate of 9 per 1,000 live births. However, actual numbers might be higher since the RBSK data only covers the govt and aided schools.
